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Aspects of the Reproductive Biology of Chitra Vandijki with a Description of Neonates

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Aspects of the Reproductive Biology of Chitra Vandijki with a Description of Neonates SALAMANDRA 56(1): 66–70 SALAMANDRA 15 February 2020 ISSN 0036–3375 Correspondence German Journal of Herpetology Correspondence Aspects of the reproductive biology of Chitra vandijki with a description of neonates Steven G. Platt1, Myo Min Win1, Kalyar Platt2, Nathan A. Haislip3 & Thomas R. Rainwater4 1) Wildlife Conservation Society – Myanmar Program, No. 12, Nanrattaw St., Kamayut Township, Yangon, Myanmar 2) Turtle Survival Alliance – Myanmar Program, No. 12, Nanrattaw St., Kamayut Township, Yangon, Myanmar 3) Turtle Survival Alliance – Turtle Survival Center, 1030 Jenkins Road, Suite D, Charleston, South Carolina 29407, USA 4) Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center & Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, P.O. Box 596, Georgetown, South Carolina 29442, USA Corresponding author: Thomas R. Rainwater, e-mail: [email protected] Manuscript received: 23 July 2019 Accepted: 11 November 2019 by Edgar Lehr The Burmese Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle (Chitra endangered species (Dayton 2003). We here report on as- vandijki McCord & Pritchard, 2003) is a large (straight- pects of the reproductive ecology (phenology, nesting hab- line carapace length [CL] to ca. 1000 mm) softshell turtle itat, clutch and egg attributes, and incubation period) of endemic to Myanmar where confirmed records are avail- C. vandijki in the upper Chindwin River of Myanmar, and able from the Ayeyarwady-Chindwin River system, and provide the first published description of neonates with ac- lower Sittang and Thanlwin rivers (Kuchling et al. 2004, companying photographs. Platt et al. 2005, 2014, 2018). Chitra vandijki is subject to The Chindwin River arises in the Hukaung Valley of intense subsistence exploitation by rural villagers, large northern Myanmar and flows southward for about 1200 numbers are taken for illegal export to wildlife markets km before debouching into the Ayeyarwady River near in southern China, eggs are widely collected for domestic Pakokku (Gresswell & Huxley 1965). Much of the up- consumption, and habitat degradation due to gold-mining per (upstream from Homalin) Chindwin River is charac- and conversion of sandbanks to seasonal agricultural fields terized by wide meanders with extensive sandbanks and is occurring on many rivers (Kuchling et al., 2004, Platt point bars, although some stretches are confined to a deep- et al. 2014, 2017b). Consequently, populations of C. vandijki ly incised channel with small sandbanks nestled in pockets throughout Myanmar have declined precipitously (Platt eroded from the bedrock (Platt et al. 2013, 2017a). The et al. 2014), even within some protected areas (Platt et al. regional climate is tropical monsoonal with an annual wet 2017b). As a result, C. vandijki is now in the process of be- season extending from late May–early June through late ing classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Redlist September, followed by a dry season from mid-October to and ranked among the 25 most endangered chelonians in May (Terra 1944, Platt et al. 2013). River levels reflect the the world (Stanford et al. 2018). monsoonal cycle with peak water levels occurring during Despite this parlous conservation situation, virtually the mid- to late wet season (Platt et al. 2013, 2017a). nothing is known concerning the ecology of C. vandij­ Our observations of C. vandijki reproduction were ki (Platt et al. 2014). This is certainly the case with re- made in conjunction with a conservation project focused gards to reproduction (Platt et al. 2014); with the excep- on the critically endangered Burmese Roofed Turtle (Bata­ tion of a single clutch of eggs obtained from a villager and gur trivittata [Duméril & Bibron, 1835]) in the Chindwin described by Platt et al. (2018), information on the re- River (reviewed by Platt & Platt 2018). We obtained productive ecology of C. vandijki is non-existent. Further- clutches of C. vandijki eggs 3–24 hours after being notified more, descriptions and photographs of neonate C. vandijki by Community Conservation Cadres (CCC) employed to are unavailable in the literature (Platt et al. 2014). This monitor sandbanks along the river for signs (e.g., track- dearth of information is lamentable because such basic ways) of turtle nesting activity. At each nest, we first meas- natural history data are a necessary prerequisite for design- ured the distance from the approximate center of the nest ing and implementing effective conservation strategies for to the river. We then began excavating the nest until reach- © 2020 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V. (DGHT), Mannheim, Germany Open66 access at http://www.salamandra-journal.com Correspondence Table 1. Laying and hatching dates, distance to water, and clutch attributes of three Chitra vandijki nests found on sandbanks along the upper Chindwin River, Sagaing Region, Myanmar in 2018. Egg diameter (mm) Nest Laying date Hatching date To river Clutch Mean ± 1SD Range (m) size 1 21 July 2018 30 September–1 October 2018 21 76 28.3±0.4 27.1–29.6 2 15 August 2018 29 October–5 November 2018 31 102 29.5±1.0 27–36.6 3 7 September 2018 Undetermined (see text) 20 89 26.0±3.2 20.1–30.5 ing the uppermost eggs in the clutch and measured the vated 20–31 m from the edge of the river. Although posi- vertical distance from the sand surface to the eggs. We re- tioned on level (slope < 5°) microsites near the highest part moved the clutch (taking care to maintain the upright ori- of the sandbank, a slight rise in river levels (ca. 30–45 cm) entation of each egg), counted the eggs, and measured the would probably have inundated all three nests. Female vertical distance from the surface to the floor of the nest B. trivittata have used the same sandbanks for nesting dur- cavity. We measured the diameter of each egg using dial ing February and March (peak months of dry season) in calipers (± 0.1 mm), packed the eggs in a sand-filled plastic previous years (Platt et al. 2017a). box and transported them by boat to a secure husbandry The three clutches ofC. vandijki eggs that we found were facility at Limpha Village (25°48’19’’ N, 95°31’44’’ E, 132 m deposited from 21 July to 7 September 2018 (Table 1). We above sea level). Clutches were incubated under ambient also purchased 15 eggs in the Khamti Market on 16 August conditions in either a sand-filled Styrofoam Box (1 clutch) 2018. Because turtle eggs are unlikely to remain unsold for or artificial sand bed surrounded by a tightly woven bam- more than a few days, we assume this clutch was depos- boo fence lined with plastic sheeting to prevent the escape ited around 14–15 August 2018. Previously, we obtained a of hatchlings (two clutches). clutch of 56 C. vandijki eggs from a villager in Padumone We measured neonates within 24 hours of emerging (26°00’55’’ N, 95°52’09’’ E, 183 m above sea level) on 25 Au- from the nest and if the laying date was known, calculated gust 2016 that was harvested 1–2 days earlier (Platt et al. the incubation period. Using dial calipers, we measured (to 2018). Collectively, these data indicate that egg-laying by the nearest 0.1 mm) CL, maximum carapace width (CW), C. vandijki occurs during a two-month period from mid- mid-line plastron length (PL), and shell depth (SD; from July through early September, a time that coincides with plastron to highest point of carapace) of each neonate. Our near-maximal river levels of the late wet season (Fig. 1). measurements include the pliable margins of the bony car- Given this phenology, C. vandijki nests are probably at risk apace (Leathery Carapace Length of Pritchard 2001) and of being lost to flooding during most years. plastron. Neonates were maintained in captivity for about We calculated mean clutch size for C. vandijki based on six months (head-started) and then released into the wild. the three nests found along the Chindwin River in 2018 We also searched for turtle eggs during infrequent visits (Table 1) and another clutch of 56 eggs from Padumone to an urban market in Khamti (25°59’48’’ N, 95°42’06’’ E, (Platt et al. 2018). Eggs purchased in the Khamti Market 144 m above sea level). Eggs purchased in the market were were not included in our analysis because turtle eggs are returned to Limpha, measured, and incubated as described sold individually and those we obtained were almost cer- above. River level and air temperature data were obtained tainly part of a larger clutch from which eggs had already from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, been removed. The mean size of the four complete clutches Ministry of Transport and Communication in Khamati in our sample was 80.7 ± 19.6 eggs (range = 56–102 eggs). and Homalin, respectively (air temperature is not recorded Chitra vandijki eggs are spherical in shape with a leathery at Khamti station). Mean values are presented as ± 1SD. shell that becomes increasingly hardened as eggs dry dur- We found three C. vandijki nests on two sandbanks ing incubation. The mean egg diameter for our complete along the western shore of the Chindwin River near Sein sample (including eggs from Khamti Market) was 28.2 ± Naing Village (25°15’39’’ N, 95°10’12’’ E; 140 m above sea 2.3 mm (n = 338; range = 20.1–36.6 mm). level) during 2018 (Table 1). Conspicuous trackways left We incubated 282 C. vandijki eggs (267 collected from by nesting female turtles led from the river to each nest. the wild and 15 purchased in market) of which 150 (53.1%) The sandbanks used for nesting by female C. vandijki are successfully hatched. None of the eggs we obtained in the adjacent to deep holes in the riverbed, and composed Khamti Market hatched, most likely as the result of mis- largely of medium to fine-grained metamorphic sands, a handling prior to our purchase.
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